A magnetizing apparatus (1) includes an openable and closeable annular portion (3) formed by a magnet (2). The annular portion (3) includes a lock mechanism (4) configured to hold the annular portion (3) in a closed state. A magnetizing method includes an attaching step of placing an object inside the annular portion (3) by opening and closing the annular portion (3) and attaching the magnetizing apparatus (1) to the object by holding the annular portion (3) in a closed state with the lock mechanism (4), a moving step of moving the magnetizing apparatus (1) relative to the object in the axial direction of the annular portion (3) while the magnetizing apparatus (1) is attached to the object, and a detaching step, after the moving step, of releasing the lock mechanism (4) to detach the magnetizing apparatus (1) from the object.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A magnetizing apparatus comprising: a circular or non-circular openable and closeable annular portion formed by a magnet; and a marker holder configured to hold a marker for marking an object placed inside the annular portion by opening and closing the annular portion, wherein the annular portion comprises a lock mechanism configured to hold the annular portion in a closed state.
2. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet has different polarities in an axial direction of the annular portion.
3. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnet comprises a plurality of portions interconnected in a peripheral direction of the annular portion.
4. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the annular portion comprises a hinge rotatably connecting portions of the magnet, among the plurality of portions, that are adjacent in the peripheral direction of the annular portion.
5. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hinge is a torque hinge with a predetermined rotational resistance.
6. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism is configured by a toggle latch provided at both peripheral ends of the annular portion.
7. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the annular portion comprises a sliding plate that forms an inner peripheral surface of the annular portion.
8. A magnetizing method for magnetizing an object using the magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, the magnetizing method comprising: an attaching step of attaching the magnetizing apparatus to the object by opening and closing the annular portion to place the object inside the annular portion and holding the annular portion in a closed state with the lock mechanism; a moving step of moving the magnetizing apparatus relative to the object in an axial direction of the annular portion while the magnetizing apparatus is attached to the object; and a detaching step, after the moving step, of releasing the lock mechanism to detach the magnetizing apparatus from the object.
9. The magnetizing method according to claim 8, wherein the magnetizing method further comprises a marking step of applying a marking to the object, by performing the moving step, with the marker held by the marker holder.
10. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the marker holder is configured to force the marker toward the object placed inside the annular portion.
11. The magnetizing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the marker holder is configured to force the marker toward a radical inner side of the annular portion.
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March 4, 2021
May 13, 2025
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